Express editor Peter Hill on his amazing 50-year-career and his regret over Madeleine McCann

After starting on the Colne Valley Guardian in West Yorkshire straight out of school, Hill worked his way up through the regional and national press to edit the Daily Star for five years between 1998 and 2003 (rapidly growing its circulation at a time when other redtops were flagging).

He has edited the Daily Express for the last seven years.

In an interview with Press Gazette this week he spoke about his pride at his achievements at the Star and Daily Express, but also voiced his regret over coverage of the Madeleine McCann disappearance which resulted in a record libel payout.

In March 2008 all four Express Newspapers national titles printed front-page apologies after a £550,000 out of court settlement following many articles which implied that Gerry and Kate McCann were to blame for the disappearance of their three-year-old daughter from Praia da Luz, Portugal, in 2007.

Asked whether he had any regrets about the coverage, Hill said: "The fact of the matter is that the McCanns could have sued any of the British media. All the British media went crazy about the story because it was such an amazing story.